Key-ring and key-retainer.



G. C. MESSMER.

KEY RING AND KEY RETAINER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1911.

llll Patented May 13, 1913.

CHRISTIAN C. MESSMER, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

KEY-RING AND KEY-RETAINER.

menses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 15, 1911.

Patented May 13, 1913. Serial No. 638,727.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN C. Muss- Mnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Rings and Key-Retainers, of which the following is a specification.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a key ring on which keys may be carried, and one which may be easily placed over the shaft of a door lock and when the door is locked and the key left in the door, the key cannot be turned with tweezers from the outside of the door, nor pushed out of the door. These objects I accomplish with the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures.

Figure 1 is a plan of the ring. I ig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan View showing the ring opened. Fig. 1 is an elevation in perspective showing the ring as a key retainer.

My device consists of a severed and hingedly connected piece of metal bent to form an ellipse. The main part 1 has one end formed or cut at an angle and V-shaped. The other portion 2 is hinged to the part 1 by the hinge 3, and has the other end out in an A-shaped form and at an angle opposite the one at the end of said part 1. The purpose being that when the two are placed adjaeent they will lock against each other. On the inner side of the curved end of the part 2 is secured a spring 4 bent to conform to the curved end of the part 1. The tension of said spring 1 holds the engaging ends of the parts 1 and 2 in contact when adjacent.

The ellipse form of my spring enables me to inclose the shaft 6 of a door-lock therewith, after the key 5 has been turned in said lock to lock the door. After my key ring has been placed over the said shaft 6, and the door locked, and with the key remaining in the lock and on the ring it is impossible to turn the key in the lock or to push the key out of the lock.

When the ring is opened for the purpose of placing other keys thereon, or to encircle the shaft 6 of the look when used as a key retainer, the said spring 41 will be turned outwardly at one end forming a spur which will prevent the keys from slipping oil' of the ring while thus open. To open the ring for either purpose, the A-shaped end portion of the part 2 is pressed inwardly or toward the part 1 far enough to release the engagement or locking of the adjacent ends 01 the said parts 1 and 2, and bent to either side of the plane of the ring far enough to pass the end 01 the said part 1. The hinge 3 will then permit the part 2 to be turned outwardly as shown in Fig. 3.

From the above description the operation of the device and the advantages possessed by it will be apparent, and while I have shown a particular detailed construction of my ring, it will be understood that I may make alterations, if desired, in the detailed construction oi. the same within the scope of the claims without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim A key ring and key retainer consisting of a piece of round spring wire bent to form one portion of an ellipse and having one end thereof cut at an angle; another piece of similar wire pivoted to said first mentioned wire and having the free end cut at a reverse angle to the end of the first mentioned wire and formed to complete the ellipse; and a piece of metal spring semi-eircular in cross section secured to the last mentioned wire and having its free end bent to conform to the curvature of one end of said ellipse and to cont act with a portion of the inner periphery of the first mentioned wire to hold the free ends of said wires in contact when contiguous said spring end preventing the slipping oil of keys from said first mentioned wire.

In testimony whereof I have afliXed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTIAN C. MESSMER.

Witnesses:

ALLEN D. DANIELS, A. WV. Knnosoiv.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

